keeping one's cards close to one's chest
Concealing one's strategy
Keeping one's cards close to one's chest means concealing your intentions, plans, or resources from others.
The image comes from card games where revealing your hand would give opponents an advantage.
Someone who keeps their cards close to their chest is secretive or guarded, sharing only what's necessary: She's keeping her cards close to her chest about the merger negotiations.
- taciturnityDisinclined to speak
- confidentialityQuality of protecting secrets
- cautionCareful attention to risk
- suspicionSense of unease about motives
- concealmentAct of hiding something
hidden agenda · non-disclosure · under wraps · ambiguity · calculation · inscrutability · caginess · privacy · private person · discretion · reservation · subtlety · opacity · reticence · strategic silence · holding back · maneuvering · poker face
keeping one's cards close to one's chestspilling the beans
Disclosing confidential information
letting the cat out of the bag · baring all · wearing one's heart on one's sleeve · full disclosure · oversharing
keeping one's cards close to one's chestwearing one's heart on one's sleeve
Displaying emotions openly
baring one's soul · letting it all hang out · pouring one's heart out · gushing · emoting
keeping one's cards close to one's chestplaying into someone's hands
Unknowingly benefiting an adversary